Latest Updates

Register Now - Meetings that Matter: Governance, Strategy & Public Trust

In-Person Workshop Designed for Elected Officials

Workshop Details

Date/Time: March 30, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Atlantic Ballroom, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax
Fee: $275 + HST
Note: Limited to 100 registrants 

About the Session

Municipal meetings are where leadership is tested, and where credibility is built. 

As municipalities navigate fiscal pressure and increased expectations, the way councils conduct their meetings plays a critical role in demonstrating leadership, accountability, and readiness to partner.

This full-day, interactive session will equip elected officials with practical tools to:

• Strengthen meeting structure and decision discipline
• Clarify roles and reduce common friction points
• Manage tone and difficult moments under pressure
• Use council meetings as visible demonstrations of professionalism and preparedness

Through real-world scenarios, structured exercises, and peer discussion, participants will leave with concrete strategies they can apply immediately in their next meeting.

Presenters

Kristan Hines – Senior Vice-President, Corporate & PublicAffairs, NATIONAL Public Relations

Erin Norwood MacLeod – Associate Vice-President, PublicAffairs, NATIONAL Public Relations

Click HERE for further details and to register.

Registration closes at 12:00 p.m. on March 26, 2026.

Stormwater Management Strategy: Practitioners Session

Municipal engineers, planners, and other staff are key players in facilitating stormwater management while balancing the many competing demands of infrastructure planning. Join leaders from West Hants, Berwick, and Kentville as they provide insight into creating and updating stormwater strategies that tackle regulatory compliance, population growth, flood risk, and sustainability. Discussion will also include infrastructure funding options, municipal technical capacity, and asset management technologies used in operations and maintenance.

NSFM is pleased to coordinate this session as part of a flood adaptation series funded by the Department of Municipal Affairs.

This first session is part of our flood adaptation series that will run throughout 2026.

Date: March 12, 2026
Time: 1:30–2:30 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Presenters:
Aaron Dondale, Director of Public Works, Town of Berwick
Tim Bouter, Project Engineer, West Hants Regional Municipality
David Bell, Director of Engineering & Public Works, Town of Kentville

Register: Stormwater Management Strategy

Explore the Winter 2025 Edition
Dive into thoughtful analysis, community perspectives, and timely municipal updates. This issue brings forward the ideas and stories shaping local leadership across Nova Scotia.
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The Municipal Funding Database you've been using is now a full Funding Portal – and we launched it today at nsfunding.ca.

The Funding Portal is Now Live!

We rebuilt it from the ground up to make finding funding faster. The portal launches with 100+ programs, with more added regularly as we build toward complete coverage of funding available in Nova Scotia.

What's included: 

    ✓ Federal, provincial, municipal, and private foundation programs – all in one place 

    ✓ Search and filter by deadline, category, eligibility, funder, or keyword 

    ✓ Find what you need in seconds, not hours

Here's what to do: 

    ✓ Visit nsfunding.ca and explore the portal 

    ✓ Try the search and filtering features on the Explore page 

    ✓ Subscribe to monthly updates 

    ✓ Reach out anytime through the contact form on the portal or email me directly at fundnavigator@nsfm.ca

A quick note: This portal exists because of feedback from municipalities like yours. When we asked what you needed, you told us the old database wasn't functional enough – too hard to search, too hard to find, too hard to navigate. We built this to fix those problems.

Now we need your feedback again. What works? What doesn't? What's missing? Positive or critical – it all helps us make this better for everyone.